Mersey Parks Nursing and Residential Home welcomed Everton legend John Bailey for its annual summer fair.

The former Blues’ left back met and chatted with staff and patrons from the Toxteth-based venue, visiting a number of wards to pose for photographs, as well as discussing his playing days during Everton’s successful period of the mid-80s.

Mersey Parks also had guests from Everton in the Community’s Safe Hands programme.

Drawing crowds in their hundreds throughout the day, guests were treated to a tombola, raffles, as well as number of stalls, all set against musical accompaniment, courtesy of Safe Hands Transitional Support officer and part-time DJ, Alex Jones.

Participants from the five-year project that caters for young offenders in the Merseyside area have been taking part in community work – with a particular focus on horticulture – and visiting residents on a regular basis for the past nine months.

Mersey Parks provide nursing, residential care and respite as well as services for those requiring convalescence, palliative care and also specialist Parkinson’s disease care.

With dementia specialists on the team of professional staff, the home can provide personalised care to all residents.

John spending time with the residents

“This collaboration continues to be such a great benefit for the Safe Hands participants,” said Safe Hands Support Worker, Lara Hollingsworth. “Their confidence has grown and their hard work continues helping change negative perceptions of young people.

“Having support from John Bailey has also been great; he is a well-known local figure and someone who is incredibly popular and a great people-person.”

Funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s ‘Youth in Focus’ programme, Safe Hands works with young offenders prior to their release. The initiative provides an individual support package to prepare them for the life outside.